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IT Services > Staff > Staff Desktop XP > Patch on demand

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Staff Desktop XP

Patching on Demand

Introduction

A new feature has been added to the Windows XP Staff Desktop Service to enable users or IT staff to install Microsoft Security Patches and Staff Desktop Software Upgrades. This feature will allow software and security patches to be installed on demand rather than having to wait for the process to start automatically.

The process is simple: the PC is scanned to identify which Software Upgrades are needed, you will then be prompted to install the required software just as you are during the normal SMS install process. (The software Upgrades installs are mandatory once the scan has run.) Once the requested software has been installed, the PC will be rebooted. After logon, a final software upgrade scan will be carried out and if no software is required, the PC is scanned for Microsoft security patches. Once the patch scan is completed, you will be prompted to install them.

We will continue to push out patches to our service as normal, however in some circumstances our users have asked for more power to trigger the SMS install process. This is useful, for instance, when a computer has been out of use for a period and staff want to make sure it is patched and secure before using it again. It can also be used when setting up a new computer to force updates to install immediately or if a laptop has been away from campus with no internet connection and needs updating promptly on return.

How to use the facility

1. From the Start menu select Programs and then University IT Services. Double click Check for Updates icon.

   

2. A message detailing the Check for Updates process will then be displayed. Some specific software Upgrades require an independent reboot so you will be presented with this message box after every reboot until it is ascertained that all software upgrades have been installed.

   

3. When the software upgrade scan is complete, the following message will appear identifying what software upgrades are required.

   

   If no software upgrades are required, then the following message box will appear and you will then be moved to the Security Patch stage of the process.

   

4. After the required software upgrades are installed, the following message box will appear and your PC will be rebooted  Please ensure you have closed all your open applications before proceeding.

   

5. After your PC is rebooted, the Check for Updates program will automatically start after login and re-run the software upgrade scan. If no further software upgrades are required, you will move to the Microsoft Security Patch Process.

6. The process to patch the machine is then initiated You will be presented with a scroll bar while we test to see if any patches are required.

   

7. If any patches are required you will be informed via the normal system tray bubble.

   

   

8. As the message says, you should click on this bubble and follow as normal the instructions to install the patches.